Character Sketch of portia In merchant of venice
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Portia is the romantic heroine of The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare's tragicomedy. As The Merchant of Venice opens, Portia's father has passed away, leaving her with a stunning inheritance. This beautiful, wealthy woman is now the sought-after prize for many a young suitor, including those who travel from other countries to win her hand in marriage.
Portia loves a young Venetian gentleman named Bassanio and hopes he will pursue her; however, her interest comes with a hitch. As dictated by her father, the suitor who wins her hand must pass a test and choose from among three chests filled with gold, silver or lead.
Each chest has an inscription:
The gold box says, 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
The silver box says, 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
The lead box says, 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
Only one of the chests contains a picture of Portia, and if the suitor chooses wisely, he will win her hand in marriage. Portia's maid and confidant, Nerissa, assures the young woman that her father was a good man with her best interests at heart. However, Portia may not love the suitor who chooses the right chest, leaving her with no say over her personal happiness.
She explains her dilemma to Nerissa in this monologue:
'If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men's cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree. Such a hare is madness the youth - to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word 'choose!' I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike - so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?'
Portia understands the difference between knowing and doing what's right. Her deepest frustration lies in her inability to choose her own suitor due to her loyalty to her father.
The Test
Portia has many suitors, including the three finalists who get to choose from among the chests. The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold chest, which contains a skull and a note telling him that 'All that glitters is not gold.' The Prince of Arragon chooses the silver chest, which contains a picture of a fool. Much to Portia's delight, Bassanio chooses the lead chest, which contains her picture.
Bassanio and Portia marry immediately, after which Bassanio finds out that the life of his best friend, Antonio, is in danger. Bassanio reveals that a greedy merchant, Shylock, loaned him 3,000 ducats, or gold coins, so he'd have enough to win Portia's heart. As Bassanio's best friend, Antonio, guaranteed the loan, Portia gives her new husband 6,000 ducats. This more than covers the amount owed to Shylock
Portia loves a young Venetian gentleman named Bassanio and hopes he will pursue her; however, her interest comes with a hitch. As dictated by her father, the suitor who wins her hand must pass a test and choose from among three chests filled with gold, silver or lead.
Each chest has an inscription:
The gold box says, 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
The silver box says, 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
The lead box says, 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
Only one of the chests contains a picture of Portia, and if the suitor chooses wisely, he will win her hand in marriage. Portia's maid and confidant, Nerissa, assures the young woman that her father was a good man with her best interests at heart. However, Portia may not love the suitor who chooses the right chest, leaving her with no say over her personal happiness.
She explains her dilemma to Nerissa in this monologue:
'If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men's cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree. Such a hare is madness the youth - to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word 'choose!' I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike - so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?'
Portia understands the difference between knowing and doing what's right. Her deepest frustration lies in her inability to choose her own suitor due to her loyalty to her father.
The Test
Portia has many suitors, including the three finalists who get to choose from among the chests. The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold chest, which contains a skull and a note telling him that 'All that glitters is not gold.' The Prince of Arragon chooses the silver chest, which contains a picture of a fool. Much to Portia's delight, Bassanio chooses the lead chest, which contains her picture.
Bassanio and Portia marry immediately, after which Bassanio finds out that the life of his best friend, Antonio, is in danger. Bassanio reveals that a greedy merchant, Shylock, loaned him 3,000 ducats, or gold coins, so he'd have enough to win Portia's heart. As Bassanio's best friend, Antonio, guaranteed the loan, Portia gives her new husband 6,000 ducats. This more than covers the amount owed to Shylock
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